Uptown Saturday Night

Published Friday, June 27, 2008

Stroll down San Marco Avenue Saturday evening and experience a variety of cultural displays and plenty of shopping. Uptown Saturday Night is held from 5 to 9 p.m. (the last Saturday of each month) in uptown St. Augustine. Art galleries, antiques shops and other merchants will offer extended hours. New art exhibits and other events will be offered throughout the night. Wine, champagne, appetizers and refreshments help to make the event a festive affair. Free parking is available at the Mission of Nombre de Dios, where the big cross stands, on San Marco Avenue. Uptown Saturday Night is sponsored by the San Marco Avenue Merchants Association. For information, call 824-3152.

The following is a list of participating merchants during the June 28 event:

360 Boutique, 50 San Marco Ave., 342-4064: A cool, fresh summer collection of fun and affordable wearable art will be featured. Hats, purses, hand-carved wooden shoes also will be available. Light hors d'oeuvres will be provided by SAiRA.

Abbott Tract Artists, 31 San Marco Ave., 829-2934: "Only Original Art," a group exhibition by artists of the gallery, will be featured during the event. View paintings in various mediums by North Florida artists.

Art Advocate Gallery, 76B San Marco Ave., 826-4116: "The Water Street Collection" brings together art by "The Water Street Five," a group of local artists who lived on Water Street in the early '90s. Clarinda Jennison, Ted Karam, Renee Drysdale, Deborah Thompson and David Ouellette were the original five, with works in this collection provided by Thompson, Ouellette, Karam and Jennison, and artists Wendy Mandel McDaniel and Jason Fort contributed art to the show. The exhibit opens from 5 to 9 p.m. June 28 and runs through July 18.

A Step Back in Time, 60 San Marco Ave., 810-5829: Special guest Richard Ong, also known as The Marble Man, will display his rare and collectible marble exhibit, from 6 to 8 p.m. Antique furniture, American art pottery, elegant glass, kitsch, vintage and contemporary jewelry, home decor, and gift items also will be featured.

The Bead Chick, 78B San Marco Ave., 829-8829: Jewelry and jewelry-making supplies can be found at the location, as well as consignment items by the Ancient City Artisan's Guild, a group of women offering hand-made art, jewelry, paper art and other goods.

Boles-McCune Gallery, 61 San Marco Ave., 823-9919: Find folk art, abstract paintings, antiques, collectibles, oriental art and other mediums at this gallery that shows work from many area artists.

Claire's Collectibles, 78A San Marco Ave., 825-1122: Make a summer-themed card using rubber stamps during the event. Claire's offers a wide variety of rubber stamps, and other accessories needed for creating one-of-a-kind handmade cards. Appetizers will be provided by SAiRA.

Coastal Traders, 56 San Marco Ave., 829-1686: Indonesian furniture and Balinese-style dcor and lighting will be featured. Signature pieces for outdoor spaces, gardens and docks also will be available. Appetizers will be provided by SAiRA.

Creative Home Furnishings, 48 San Marco Ave., 824-3152: "Out with the old and in with the new," a summer sale, will be featured during the event. Champagne on ice will be served.

Eden, 82 San Marco Ave., 829-2122: Find antique furniture, candles, glass, china and other items during Uptown Saturday Night. Trapp candles also will be featured, with a free votive available with the purchase of a large candle. Light hors d'oeuvres will be provided by SAiRA.

New Life Discount Depot, 58 San Marco Ave., 829-9060: Find oriental apparel, new and used clothing and other fine gifts. Appetizers will be provided by SAiRA.

The St. Augustine Antique Emporium, 62 San Marco Ave., 829-0544: Decorate for summer with collectible antiques, home decor and other items.

Sofa Tuckers, 73 San Marco Ave., 824-6367: Mosaic artist Debbie Daniels will display tropical custom glass creations including photo and mirror frames, wall decor, bird baths and other unique items. A portion of the proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

S.O.S. Antiques, 74 San Marco Ave., 823-0008: Find a large collection of authentic nautical antiques. The owners have been in the marine salvage business for more than 25 years in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Village Market, 72 San Marco Ave., 824-8281: Beach decor, nautical items, stained glass lamps, hammocks, gift items and wine accessories can be found at this location.

W.B. Tatter Studio/Gallery, 76A San Marco Ave., 823-9363: New works by Roxanne Horvath and Peter Rumple, both avant guarde St. Augustine architects, will be on view during Uptown Saturday Night.

Wolf's Head Books Inc., 67B San Marco Ave., 824-9357: Author Beth Rogero Bowen will sign copies of "St. Augustine in the Gilded Age," a postcard history series that was created in conjunction will the St. Augustine Historical Society. Also at this location, find out-of-print and collectible books, as well as military manuals, postcards and other ephemera. Refreshments will be served.

St. Augustine Independent Restaurant Association (SAiRA) is a group of locally and independently owned restaurants. Go online at www.staugustinerestaurants.com to learn more.